Six interested in village police chief post

Walbridge Mayor Dan Wilczynski said the village has received resumes from six persons expressing interest in the police chief position.

The mayor and council are reviewing the resumes but aren’t committing to a deadline for hiring a new chief.

Donald Hendren, the former chief, submitted his resignation in February. Officer Jason Harden has been named acting chief of the department, which has a staff of four full-time and four part-time officers.

The mayor said the applicants include those with many years of experience as well as some who haven’t been working in law enforcement for a long time.

He said he’s consulted with Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn about the process of filling the vacancy and plans to discuss it with the police chiefs in Lake Township and City of Northwood.

“They’re willing to offer input and help us out as we go through the hiring process,” the mayor said.

Joann Schiavone, a former member of village council, has asked village officials to consider contracting with Lake Township for police coverage instead of maintaining a village department.

Citing data compiled by Mark Hummer, the township police chief, Mrs. Schiavone, in a presentation last month to village council, argued the township could provide 24-hour police service for the village at a cost of approximately $350,000 a year - approximately $100,000 less than the village’s 2008 budget for the department and mayor’s court.

The township also has more experienced officers, a full-time detective bureau, a school resource officer, and a K-9 unit, she pointed out.

Mayor Wilczynski has said he’s committed to maintaining a village department.

Summit time setOrganizers of a meeting of area officials to discuss drainage problems in Lucas, Wood, and Ottawa counties have set the time of the meeting for 3-5 p.m. on April 28.

The City of Northwood has extended invitations to what it is calling a Water Drainage Summit at city council chambers.

Organizers are hoping problems with flooding after even moderate rainstorms can be reduced through a regional approach.

“Never before has this area suffered so much destruction from the most modest of rainfalls,” the invitation to the summit says, noting the recurring problem with the drainage system of creeks and ditches leading to Lake Erie is one issue the jurisdictions can cooperate on.

Equipment purchaseFunding for new equipment and building improvements has been approved by the Lake Township trustees for the fire department.

The trustees earlier this month approved a contract totaling $53,403 for the purchase of 36 sets of gear, including coats, pants, boots, and suspenders and 37 helmets from W. F. Smithers Co., Walbridge.

The trustees also purchased a 2007 GMC four-wheel drive vehicle from Ed Schmidt GMC, Maumee, for $44,482 for the department.

Both purchases were conducted through a bidding process.

Ace Roofing, Millbury, is being retained to repair gutters and downspout at fire station 2 at a cost of $450.

Budget forum As the state legislature nears the expected vote on the budget bill, Representative Randy Gardner says he intends to focus on several areas, including steering the state’s share of federal stimulus funds toward job training and away from general government spending.

He also said he opposes what he sees as Gov. Ted Strickland’s unfunded education mandates and the governor’s proposal to expand the school year by 20 days over the next decade.

Representative Gardner scheduled his second public forum to discuss the proposed budget last Thursday at the Way Public Library.

Amendments Representative Gardner is sponsoring or supporting would restore $10 million in public library funding. He also intends to push for restoring funds for cooperative extension programs and agricultural research.